Hip Arthritis:
Background:
The hip is one of the most common joints in the body that is affected by degenerative Arthritis. Degenerative Arthritis is a slow, progressive condition most commonly seen in the elderly and primarily affects the weight bearing joints of the body. When we are standing, walking, running and doing anything on our feet, the hips are one of the primary joints that absorb the shock of the activity and that is a primary reason degeneration is so common here. When the hip joint becomes degenerated the surface of the joint, which is usually lined with cartilage, begins to undergo a transformation which makes this normally soft and smooth surface become hard and rough. After this happens any movement of the joint over this hard, rough area will create pain and discomfort. Once these changes in the cartilage of the joint appear there is no reversal of the condition and treatment focuses on stopping the progression. Making this problem more difficult is the fact that the cartilage we have discussed has no direct blood supply to it and the way if “feeds” is by movement of the joint bringing the nutrition to the cartilage. So this creates a situation where after we damage the cartilage of a joint it creates pain and our natural reaction is to reduce the movement and the stress through the joint. This is actually the worse thing you can do because without movement the cartilage cannot heal and will therefore not be able to return to normal healthy cartilage, but will instead go the changes that are associated with Arthritis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Someone who has degenerative Arthritis of the hip will describe a pain that has onset gradually over the last few months to years, and is the most significant when they first put weight on the hip. The pain will diminish as the ‘loosen it up’ but when they rest, the pain happens again when they put weight on it. As the condition progresses the joint will begin to lose range of motion and they will go through times when the joint will become inflamed.
Treatment:
Conservative Chiropractic care has been proven to be an effective treatment for degenerative Arthritis to help reduce and even eliminate the pain. Chiropractic care has also been shown to be effective in maintaining the complete range of motion of the joint, which as already stated, motion of the joint is very important for keeping the condition from progressing to a more debilitating situation by maintaining proper nutrition to the cartilage. If you or someone you know is needlessly suffering from hip pain due to degenerative Arthritis come into Absolute Healthcare Chiropractic and have Dr. Gerwig design a customized treatment protocol, without the use of drugs or surgery, that can have you on the road to living pain free today!
Hip Bursitis:
Background:
Bursitis of the hip is a condition characterized by periods of pain and swelling, usually at the lateral aspect of the hip, that are brought on by vigorous activities such as running, biking and jumping. The bursa are sac like formations that are tough and thick on the outside and filled with a liquid that helps to keep it moving. The Bursa are placed between areas that build up a lot of friction, like between muscles and tendons or ligaments and the bones of the body. In the hip the most popular bursa to become inflamed is located on the outside of the hip and it sits between the Iliotibial band and the lateral aspect of the femur.
Signs and Symptoms:
Someone suffering form Hip bursitis will describe a pretty significant pain in their lateral hip that usually started after they began running for the first time in a few months or so. The pain will decrease with the use of ice and not running for a few days, but when they try to run again the pain will come on quicker and be more intense. The condition will occasionally have an associated swelling.
Treatment:
Hip Bursitis has been show to be treated effectively with conservative Chiropractic care and it can relieve the initial pain along with figuring out why the condition started to keep it from coming back. If you or someone you know is needlessly suffering from hip pain due to bursitis come into Absolute Healthcare Chiropractic and have Dr. Gerwig design a customized treatment protocol, without the use of drugs or surgery, that will have you on the road to living and playing pain free today!
Iliotibial Band Syndrome:
Background:
The Iliotibial band is a long, thick fibrotic band that extends from the bottom of the hip, the area above the bony portion of the side of the hip, down the lateral leg and attaches at the bottom of the outside of the knee. When we rub this band back and forth repeatedly over a friction like surface the band can become irritated, inflamed and produce pain. There are two primary areas that this will happen; the first is at the bands origin and the second, and more common spot, is at the top of the lateral knee. This condition is most commonly seen in runners who run outside on uneven surfaces or who have an abnormality in their gate.
Signs and Symptoms:
Someone suffering from Iliotibial Band Syndrome will describe pain that begins after running for an extended period of time; the pain will diminish when they stop running, but will come back the next time they try to run. The pain can be anywhere from a dull ache to an intense sharp pain. There can be an associated swelling with the pain, but that is not always present.
Treatment:
Conservative Chiropractic care has been shown to be very effective in relieving the pain of Iliotibial band syndrome and preventing it from coming back the next time you run. If you or someone you know is needlessly suffering from hip or knee pain form Iliotibial band syndrome come into Absolute Healthcare Chiropractic and have Dr. Gerwig design a customized Treatment protocol, without the use of drugs or surgery, that will have you on the road to living pain free today!
Strains at the Hip:
Background:
There are numerous muscles around the hip that can be strained and many ligaments that can be sprained. The most common injury seen though is a strain of the iliopsoas muscle, an injury more commonly known as a ‘hip pointer’. The iliopsoas muscle runs from the front of the Lower back vertebrae, inserts onto the front of the Femur and is the primary muscle involved in flexing the hip. This injury usually occurs as a result of repeated forceful flexion of the hip such as sprinting. The second most common strain around the hip is a strain of the adductor muscle group, which is located on the inside of the leg and runs from the pubic symphsis (the pubic bone) and attaches to the inside of the Femur. This muscle group is primarily concerned with drawing the leg inward and the injury is often referred to as a groin pull. This injury usually occurs during running hard and having to quickly change direction.
Signs and Symptoms:
Someone suffering from a strained muscle will complain of pain and swelling usually following one particular activity and since then any use of the hip involving the injured muscles will create a sharp pain. The exact length and type of treatment that is needed will depend on the severity of the injury.
Treatment:
Grade one and certain grade two strains respond well to conservative Chiropractic treatment and grade three strains can be effectively co-managed with conservative chiropractic care. If you or someone you know is suffering from the pain associated with a strain at the hip them come into Absolute Healthcare Chiropractic and have Dr. Gerwig design a customized treatment protocol, without the use of drugs or surgery, that will have you on the road to living and playing pain free today!
Piriformis Syndrome:
Background:
The Piriformis muscle is a short, thick muscle that runs from the outside aspect of the Sacrum to the lateral bony portion of the hip. This muscle’s primary function is in external rotation of the hip, it helps with extension and taking the leg away from the body. This muscle can become injured form overuse, it can react to an injury of the Sacroiliac joint, or it can be injured with significant trauma. Whatever the cause initially the muscle starts to spasm and tighten up, just like when any other muscle is injured. The problem occurs when this muscle begins to exert compression on the Sciatic nerve as it passes by the muscle. Anatomically the Sciatic nerve can run either over the piriformis muscle, under the piriformis muscle and in less common cases the nerve will pierce through the muscle belly. Whatever the arrangement, when the injured Piriformis muscle tightens up and compresses the Sciatic nerve, pain similar to Sciatica can be produced. The primary difference between Piriformis Syndrome and Sciatica, besides for the cause of the pain, is that Sciatica pain will usually extend all the way down the leg and into the foot whereas the pain from Piriformis Syndrome will usually only extend to the knee.
Signs and Symptoms:
Someone suffering from Piriformis Syndrome will describe pain and possibly numbness or weakness in the back, Butt or Hip area and the symptoms may or may not extend down into the leg. The affected side will classically develop a laterally deviated foot, when you look down at your feet when you are standing or laying you will see the toe pointing outward in a laterally deviated foot. The Piriformis muscle will be extremely tender to palpation and by putting pressure on the muscle the symptoms will be reproduced.
Treatment:
Piriformis Syndrome will respond well to conservative Chiropractic treatment and can fully relieve the symptoms and prevent it from coming back. If you or someone you know is needlessly suffering from pain due to Piriformis Syndrome come into Absolute Healthcare Chiropractic and have Dr. Gerwig develop a customized treatment protocol, without the use of drugs or surgery, that will have you on the road to living pain free today!
DISCLAIMER: No individuals, including those under our active care, should use the information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat any health-related condition. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions should only be performed by your doctor of chiropractic or other licensed health care professional. |
